Tabulating machine



J. R. PEIRCE Y 1,843,986

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 192 3 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 9, 1932.

[abj' DCBA Feb. 9, 1932. ,u PEI 1,843,986v

TABULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (gave/W50;

Feb. 9, 1932.

J. R. PEIRCE TABULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE JOHN ROYDEN. PEIRCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE TABULA'IING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY This invention pertains to record-com trolled tabulating machines and has for its particular object the provision of improved devices by which combinational hole records such as the Peirce (in which there may be morethan one hole per column) may be analyzed and the readings converted into single hole readings suitable for controlling accumulators of the Hollerith type which are designed for use in connection with record cards having only one hole per column For purposes of illustration and simplicity of description the invention is explained in connection with the Peirce number code in- 1 stead of the Peirce alphabetical code because the number code has only four index positions while the alphabetical code has six positions, but the invention ma be used in connection with the Peirce alp abetical code or any known code having a plurality of holes in a single column.

In the drawings, I Fig. 1 is an end view of the invention in which a Hollerith accumulator is shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 2 is the Peirce code for numbers. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fi 1, showing a portion of a Hollerith accumu ator, the gearmg connectin the accumulator with the 3 present inventionand two units of the invention.

Fig.- 4' is a detail' view of the combs. Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the device.

Fig. 6 shows a art of the mechanism in Fig. 1, but in-a di erent position.

A Hollerith tabulator is shown at 1Q (Figs. 1 and 3), and connected therewith by gears 12 and 14 is the mechanism of my invention which is supported b a frame-work 16. (ircar 14 is fast on sha t 18 which therefore turns in synchronism with the accumulator mechanism. Fast on shaft 18 is a series of spoked discs 20, one disc for each column to t be analyzed on the card. Fast on the rim of each disc 20 are brackets 22 circumferentially grooved to accommodate four ring shaped combs 24, one for each of, the code index positions A, B, C and D. The combs are free to move circumferentially in their grooves to a limited extend relatively to their support- TAB'ULA'IING MACHINE Application filed January 12, 1926. Serial No. 80,854. a

ing disc 20. Pivotally mounted on pins 26 Fig. 1, in which each pawl 32 is latched in its notch 34 inits corresponding comb 24, so that if disc 20 rotates clockwise all combs 24 carried by that disc will rotate with it. Each comb 24 is urged in counterclockwise direction by a spring 46 connecting each ring 24 with .a bracket 22.

If any pawl 28 is moved so as to unlatch its particular comb 24 spring 46 will draw that .comb counterclockwise relatively to its disc 20 until the inwardly rojecting arm '48 of comb 24 contacts with bail rod 50, as shown in Fig. 6. Disc 20 and comb 24 continue to rotate in the direction of the arrow but the comb 24 has been slightly displaced rearwardly with relation to its supporting disc 20.

Bail 50 extends through all the units of the device and is'supported at its ends by vertical arms 52, pivoted on the two end 'discs 20 at 54. One of the.arms 52 is provided with ahorizontal arm 56' bearing at its free end a roller 58 running in groove 60 of box cam 62 which is fast to .the frame of the machine. This cam groove has a concentric portion and a substantially straight chordal portion. Bail 50 and its connecting parts just described are all carried by discs 20 as the discs rotate. While roller 58 is in the concentric portion of the cam groove, rod 50 does not move relatively to discs 20, but while roller 58 passes through the straight portion of the cam groove, arm 56 is actuated about pivot point 54' to move rod 50 first clockwise relatively to discs 20 and then back to normal position. When rod 50 moves clockwise, or forwardly, it en gages all arms 48 and moves all combs 24 forwardly relatively to discs 20 until all combs 24 are again latched in normal posi tions by their latches 32 attached to pawls 28. In other words, rod 50 is a restoring bail actuated by cam 62 to bring discs 20 and combs 24 into their normal relationship.

Bearing on the outer rims of each set'of four combs 24 is. a latch bar 64 carried by pawl arm 66 pivoted on pin 68 and pressed against the combs by spring70. Pivot pin 68 is carried on one end of horizontal lever 72; pivoted on the frame'at 74. The outer end of lever 72 when in normal position (Fig. 1) latches spring blade 7 6-to the right so'as to hold opencontact 78.

With the above construction features in mind the operation of the device may be readily understood.

Peirce cards are fed one by one, in the usual manner, from stack 80 by picker 82 between feed rolls 84, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 5. 'While passing through the feed rolls the card passes between contact brushes 86 and their corresponding con-, tact .blocks 88. Each brush traverses a columnon the card. For purposes of illustration only three brushes are shown but as many may be used as there are card columns. Each card has a reading zone in which all perforations are placed. In that zone any column mayhaVeholes in" an any one or two of the positions A, B, C, and D, as in Fig. 2, which shows the Peirce code for numbers. If, in any'colunin, there is a single hole in-A position it means- 1; a single hole atB position means 2; two holes, one at A and one at C means 3; and so on.'

Cards are fed past the brushes atregular intervals and the rotation. of the discs 20 is synchronized with the card travel so that the four latch pawls 28 pass magnet arm 40 as the four card index positions pass the brushes. Each pawl 28 with its latch 32 cooperates with one of the four combs 24,

as previously explained, and both pawl and comb are coordinated with a particular index position, so in order to clarify the description. of operation, the combs 24, pawls 28,and latches 32 have been marked (Figs. 4 and '6) with the code position letters A, B, C; and D'shown in Fig. 2.

Cards are fed past the brushes bottom first, therefore the index positions onfthe card pass the brushes in the order A, B,

Y C, and D. If any brush finds a hole in the card at (say) the .A position, contact is made through that hole between brush 86 and block 88, the magnet 44 coordinated to that column isenergized, and its armature.

42 actuated. This-swings arm 40 and moves pin 38 into the path of the tail 36 of the A awl 28 which at that instant is approac ing pin 38. When the pawl contacts 1 with pin 38 latch 32 is Withdrawn fromits notch 34 and the corresponding A comb 24, being unlatched, is drawn rearwardly by 42 with its arm 40 and trip pin 38 have been restored to normal position by spring 90 acting with the firstof the restoring cams 92 which are so placedon the side of disc '20 as to contact with the end of arm 40 after each pawl 28 has been actuated and before the next pawl is in position to be actuated.-

There is one disc 20 corresponding to each card column, and each disc 20 carries four combs 24, one for each index position A, B,

C, and D. All the discs 20 rotate in unison and by the time the pawls 28 have passed the trip pins 38, all combs 24 corresponding to perforations in the card columns have beenmoved a step rearwardly. with relation to their respective discs, as described above for an A'comb.. If one perforation is found in 'a' column, one comb is displaced; if two perforatlons arefound 1n a column, the tWo combs correspondlng to those perforations are displaced.

We are now ready to consider what happens after the proper combs 24 are displaced relatively to their discs 20. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that each comb 24 is provided in its outer rimwith a series of notches .94. Fig. 4 shows the combs in normal position and it will be noted that nowhere is there a set of notches aligned with each other on all four combs. For instance, at the 5 position the notchesof combs A, B, and D are aligned, but there is no corresponding notch in the C comb. It will also be noted that if the C comb be drawn a step .rearwardly that it will present a notch in respondng to those perforations must be displaced rearwardly to provide a set of four aligned notches. For instance, the digit 6 is designated by perforations at A and D positions, and it' will be seen (Fig. 4) that it is the A and D combs that must be displaced to align four notches at the'six position, and so on for all other digits. The obstructing combs at any digit position are those correspondingto the index perforations "designating that particular digit, and when the obstructing comb or combs have been displaced a step rearwardly, all four notches 94 are aligned at that digit postion on the combs. .When one set of four notches is aligned, no other set can be aligned.

' designate a digit, then the two combs 24 cor- I combs 24 that, as the combs rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows, the digit pospeed," as the index perforations of a as already sitions pass any given point such as latch bar 64, in the same order, and at the sigmle 0 lerith card ass the'brush es,

As alrea y described, latch bar 64 is constantly pressed against the outer rims of combs24 by spring 70. Whenever a set of aligned notches comes opposite bar64 it drops into the notches, assuming the position shown dotted in Fig. 6 in which position it is carried along by the rotating combs until the tail 96 of pawl 66 contacts with beveled stop 98 which forces bar 64 outof notches 94. When pawl 66 was moved to the dotted position, its supporting lever 72 was forced to the position shown dotted in Fig. 6, thereby unlatching contact spring "76 and allowing contact 78 to close, thereby sending an im pulse through contact 100 and magnet 102 of the Hollerith counter and actuating it in the regular manner to turn its registers 104 an appropriate aniount. i Y

Summarizing, as the Peirce card passes brushes 86, magnets 44 are energized and armatures 42 actuated to control pawls 28 mentality of pawls 66 are enabled to actuate the Hollerith counter exactly as it is actuated by Hollerith cards.

After the cycle of o erations is completed a pin 106 on an end isc 20 contacts with a restoring lever 108 (Figs. 1 and 3) andthe restoring bail 110 pushes all contact blades 76 to the right sufliciently so that they may be latched'ln normal position (Fig. 1) by levers 72; levers 108 and '72 are retained in their normal positions by coil springs 112 and 114 res ectively. Rings 24 are restored escribed by bail 50.

The electric circuits and their control will be understood from Fig. 5. Power for the machine is furnished by motor TMwhich receives current from the line through switch 116, and drives the machine by belt 118 and variousgears shown diagrammatically.

Current for the analyzing brushes flows fromthe outside source through switch 120, line 122, contact 124, common brush holder 126, brush 86, block 88, line 128, magnet 44, and line 130 to opposite side of line.

When a contact 7 8. is closed by the operation of combs 24 on pawl 66, current flows from left side of line through line 132, line 134, contact 78, line 136, Hollerith counter Contact 100, and through counter magnet 102 to right side of line. i

Contact 124 is controlled by four-point star wheel 138 to allow contact at each index position but prevent sparkin at the card, as is customary in devices OfliCG nature.

. I claim 1. In a machine of the class described,

combinatiommeans to feed record cards having combinational holes in columns, a device to sense the combinational holes in the records, a rotating disc, a plurality of ring shaped combs mounted on said disc, means controlled by said sensing device, for setting said combs relatively to said disc, and mechanism operable by said combs after being set by said setting device. s I

2. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means consisting of a single analyzing element for each record column, a plurality of settable elements, a single operating member for selectively setting any of said elements and a single operating device for said member controlled by the record analyzing means to operate said single operating member to effect set ups of said settable elements according to character designations on controlling records.

3. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means consisting of a single analyzing element for each record column, a plurality of settable elements, a common memher for selectively setting said elements and means for relatively moving said elements and said member to successively bring each element into cooperation with said memberand means controlled by the analyzing means .for selectively operating the member in its several relative positions to effect set ups of said settable elements according to character designations on controlling records.

4. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means consisting of a single analyzing element for each record column for successively searching index point positions on controlling records, a plurality of settable elements, a common member for selectively setting said elements and means for relatively moving said elements and member to successively bring them into different cooperating positions as a controlling record is in the process of analysis and means controlled by said analyzing means for selectively operating the member in its several. relative positions to efi'ect set ups of said settable elements according to character designating index points on controllin records.

5. A record contro lled machine comprising record analyzingmeans consisting of a single analyzing element for each record column selectivelyoperating said member in its sevsetting said elements and means for relative single card reading device for successively ly moving said elements and saidmember'to bring the latter successively into cooperation with each element and means controlled by the analyzing means for selectively operating said member in its several relative positions to eiiect set ups of said settable elements corresponding to character designating index points on controlling records.

7. In a machine of the class described, a translator controlled by record cards and including a plurality of settable elements, a

searching index point positionson controlling cards which positions in number correspond to the number of the aforesaid elements and a common setting member for. all of said elements with means for presenting the same to each element in succession and means controlled by the reading device to selectively operate said member according to index points on the record cards.

8. A record controlled machineincluding analyzing means for searching index point positions on a controlling recordwhile the record isin motion, a plurality of settable elements, a single operating member for selectively setting any ofsaid elements and a single operating device for said member 0011- trolled by the analyzing means to operate said single member to effect set ups of said settable elements singly or in combinations 1 according to index combinational points on controlling records. I i

9. A record controlled machine including analyzing means for successively searching index'point pos1t1ons on individual character designating fields of a controlling record, a plurality of settable elements for each field, a single operating member for selectively setting said elements singly or inv combinations and a single operating device for said mem-.

ber controlled by the analyzing means to operate said single-member to effect set ups of said settable elementsaccording to combinational index points on the corresponding character designating field of a controlling record. f 1

, 10. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means adapted to analyze combinational index point designations,

' a rotatable element having a plurality of settable devices mounted thereon and a common member controlled by said analyzlng means for setting said devices accordmg to combldevices as set for manifesting the data rep resented by the combinational settings.

11'. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means for successively searching index point positions on a controlling record, a rotatableelement having a plurality of settable devices mounted thereon along a circumferential line, a common element mounted in proximity to said rotatable element for setting said devices, means for rotating said rotatable element to present a difierent' settable device to said common member for each index point position on a record and means controlled by said analyzing means for operating said common member and means for translating the settings of said elements into timed electrical impulses. 12. A translating device for converting pulses corresponding to a combinational index point code of character designation into pulses corresponding to a single index point code of character designation comprising a plurality of settable elements mounted on a rotatable member, a. single operating member for setting said elementswith electromag netic means for controlling the same, a switch and means coacting with said settable elements for operating the switch at differential times corresponding to different set ups of said settable elements. 13. A translating device for converting pulses corresponding to a combinational innumber to the index points of the combinational code, means for setting said elements in combinations, a switch and means for operating the same in different angular positions of the rotatable member for diflerent combinational set ups of the settable elements. 1

14. A translating device for converting pulses corresponding to a combinational code of character designation into pulses corresponding to a single index point code, comprising a plurality of settable elements mounted on a rotatable member and corresponding in number to the index points'of the combinational code, means for setting said elements in combinations according to the combinational code, a switch and means cooperating with the settable elements for operating the switch at differential times to initiate timed pulses representing by their timing the characters corresponding to the ios alyzing mechanism for successively searching combinationcode index points on records, translating mechanism for translatingthe combinational index point designations into single index point designations including a plurality of settable elements corresponding in number to the'index point positions of the combinational code, a common member for selectively setting up the elements, an

electromagnet controlled by the analyzing mechanism in each successive searching operation, to selectively operate said commonmember meansfor operatively presenting said elements to said member successively in synchronism with analysis of combinational index point designations by the analyzing mechanism and means for converting the combinational settings of said elements into corresponding character manifestations accordingto a single index point code. 17. A translator comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of combs mounted thereon, means for displacing said combs relatively to each other in combinations and means for converting the different settings of said combs into dill'erently timed impulses.

. 18. A translator comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of combs mounted there: on, means for independently displacing each of said combs relatively to the others, a device for initiating diflerentially time impulses and means for operating said device in a, different angular osition of said rotatable member for dil erent shifted conibinations of said combs.

19.-A translator comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of combs mounted there'- on, each provided with a series of radial notches, means for shifting said combs rela tively to each other in combinationsto bring notches in all of them in alignment along a definite radial line for each shifted combination, afeeler member fixed in position to search the aligned notches and a switch operated by said. feeler member to initiate differentially timed current impulses for aligned notches in the combs along/different radial line's of'the rotatable member; I

20. A record controlled machine including ,means for analyzing combinational index points on controlling recprds, a plurality of rotatable combs and means controlled b the analyzing means for shifting the com s in combinations according to combinational index point designations on the records, means for rotating the combs after shiftin and means controlled conjointly by the combs for initiating single differentially time impulses for selectively setting said elements in combinations which may include more than one element and a single operating device for said member controlled by the record analyzing means to operate said single operating member to effect combinational set ups of said elements according to combinational character designations on controlling records.

22. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means, a plurality of settable elements, a common member for selectivelysetti'ng said elements in combinations which may include more than one element, means for relatively moving said elements and said member to successively bring each element into cooperation with said member and means controlled by the record analyzing means for selectively operating the member in its several relative positions to eficct combinational set ups of said settable combinations which may include more than one element and means-controlled by the record analyzing means for moving said movable member .to effect combinational set ups of said elements according to combinational character designations on controlling records} 24. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means, a plurality of settable elements, a common member movable for selectively setting said elements in combinations which may include more than oneelement, means for moving said elements relatively to'said movable member to bring each element successively into the path of movement of said movable element and means controlled b the analyzing means for selectively effectmgmovement of said common movable member to efi'ect combinational set ups of said settable elements according to combinational character designations on controlling records. y

25. A record controlled machine comprising record analyzing means, a plurality of settable elements, a single operating member for selectively setting said elements, sin le operating device for said member control ed b the record analyzin means to operate saidrecord analyzing means'consisting of a sin- .gle analyzin element for each -record column, a plura ity of settable elements, a common member for selectively setting said elev 5 ments and electromagnetic means controlled by the record analyzing means to operate said common member to effect set ups accord ing to character designations on controlling records. no 7 27. A translator comprising a plurality 0f settable elements, a common member for sele'ctively setting said elements in combinations which may include more than one element and an electromagnet for selectivel 5 operating said common member to effect di ferent setups of the settable members.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature. I Y

JOHN ROYDEN .PEIRGE. 2 0 

